Month: October 2018

Winter Golf Deals in the Angus & Fife regions

Winter Golf Deals in the Angus & Fife regions

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This week, in the second of three blogs on Scottish Winter Golf, I pick out some of the courses in the Angus and Fife regions that are offering great deals on green fees.

Over the coming months, there are great opportunities to play two Open Championship venues and a number of Open Championship qualifier courses in Angus and Fife.  Not only are the courses are a bit quieter at this time of year but there’s also 50% off green fees in many cases!

The Home of Golf
Views from Montrose Golf Links out to Scurdie Ness Lighthouse

Now, unless the ‘Beast from the East’ returns, most of these links/coastal courses should be fully open throughout the colder months.

We are fortunate to have so many top quality courses offering such great winter golf deals at this time of year.  But, let’s not kid ourselves, apart from the obvious ‘Supply & Demand’ issues, there are other reasons for the discounted rates, such as:

  1. It can get cold, wet & windy out there – waterproofs, woolly beanies & mitts are frequently required!
  2. There may be winter greens in use, in the first few hours, if there is frost about.
  3. There may be winter maintenance works being carried out and the course may have a different layout.
  4. The clubhouse may not be open / available.

These are just a few of the reasons why golf clubs discount their green fees in the winter.  For that reason, I put together a ‘Golfing in the Winter’ checklist last month which you may want to have a quick glance at before booking your next winter round of golf – click HERE.

Next week, I will be highlighting the winter golf deals on the links/coastal courses of East Lothian, Borders, South West Scotland & Ayrshire.  For the time being, here are my course selections from the Angus & Fife regions:

 

Angus Region – Winter Golf Deals

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf

 

Montrose Golf Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.montrosegolflinks.com

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Montrose Links

In terms of hidden gems in Scotland, Montrose links is right up there with the best.  Golf was first played here, 456 years ago, in 1562 – with history like that, it’s no wonder the main course has been recently rebranded as ‘The 1562 Course’. It’s not a long track but it is an Open qualifier links course that you have to manage your way around – beware of those pot bunkers!

The 1562 Course
Round:   £34 from 1 November to 21 March 2019

Broomfield Course
Round:   £15 from 1 November to 21 March 2019

Winter Membership: £230 from October to 31 March 2019
(includes access to both courses above)

 

Arbroath Golf Links
www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Arbroath Links

On a strip of links land, wedged between Angus farmland and the East Coast railway line, lies Arbroath Links.  You’ll be tested by well placed bunkers and the ever present sea breeze. Additionally, you’ll have to plot your way over the burns that cross the fairways, on no fewer than nine occasions.

Round:   £12 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

 

Carnoustie Golf Links
www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Carnoustie

There are three courses at Carnoustie – the Championship Course, The Burnside & the Buddon.  Don’t let the green fees fool you into believing that the Championship Course is 4 times better than the Burnside Course! I am a fan of the Burnside and I believe that if this course was not overshadowed by its Open Championship neighbour, it would gain more recognition as a top Scottish course.  Give it a try, if you’ve not done so before. Winter rates for all courses have been reduced by 50%.

Championship Course
Round:   £100 from 5 November to 31 March 2019

Burnside Course
Round:   £25 from 5 November to 31 March 2019

Buddon Course
Round:   £25 from 5 November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Burnside Course, Carnoustie

Panmure Golf Club – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.panmuregolfclub.co.uk

The links course at Panmure Golf Club is definitely worth adding to your agenda, if you are golfing anywhere near this area!  It is an Open qualifier course and has held numerous regional and national events over the years. It is a fair course but bunkers lurk at most holes to catch overzealous drives. The odd burn and out of bounds will also grab your attention, so accuracy off the tee is key.

Round:   £45 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Panmure Clubhouse - The Home of Golf
Panmure Clubhouse

Monifieth Golf Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.monifiethgolf.co.uk

Only a few miles from Carnoustie lie the Medal & Ashludie courses at Monifieth.  The Medal course is an Open qualifier course – its fairways are undulating, with gorse and heather never far away – accuracy is always better than length on this classic links course.

Medal Course
Round:   £25 from 1 December to 28 February 2019

Ashludie Course
Round:   £15 from 1 December to 28 February 2019

Winter Membership:  £125 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
(Winter Ticket – 5 day Medal / 7 day Ashludie)

 

Fife Region – Winter Golf Deals

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf


Scotscraig Golf Club – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.scotscraiggolfclub.com

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Scotscraig Golf Club

Scotscraig is the most northerly course in Fife and is virtually equidistant from St Andrews and Carnoustie. The course is a mix of links and heathland terrain.  There is a lot of gorse which looks great in full bloom…. however, you’re unlikely to find your ball if it goes anywhere near it!  Scotscraig is the 13th oldest club in the world and celebrated its 200th anniversary last year. It has also been an Open qualifying course on a number of occasions over the last 35+ years.

Round:   £30 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

5 Day Winter Membership (M-F) – £160 from 15 October to 28 February 2019

 

St. Andrews
www.standrews.com

The courses at St. Andrews need no introduction from the likes of me – all I will say is that whilst you can book tee times online, the only exception is the Old Course where a ballot system is in use.  Check their website for details – www.standrews.com

Old Course
Round: £90 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

New Course
Round: £40 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Jubilee Course
Round: £40 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Eden Course
Round: £25 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Strathtyrum Course
Round: £15 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Balgove Course – 9 hole
Round: £8 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Castle Course – closes from 4 November until 1 March 2019
Round: £60 from 1-4 November & 1- 31 March 2019

 

Fairmont St. Andrews
www.fairmont.com

The Fairmont St. Andrews resort sits a few miles south east of St Andrews on a cliff-top spot. The two courses at the resort are new comers to Scottish Golf, only having been open for around 20 years but they both present a good challenge with great views.

The Torrance Course
Round:   £50 from 1 November to 17 March 2019

The Kittocks Course
Round:   £50 from 1 November to 17 March 2019

 

Crail Golfing Society
www.crailgolfingsociety.co.ukThe Home of Golf - Winter Golf

Don’t let the 5800 yardage fool you on Balcomie Links, this course can feel like 7800+ yards in a stiff breeze, where the difficultly, not only lies in playing against or across the wind, but also trying to stop your ball down wind.

Two good tests of golf on both courses, in a beautiful part of Scotland.

Balcomie Links
Round:   £35 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Craighead Links
Round:   £35 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

 

Golf House Club, Elie
www.golfhouseclub.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
18th Hole, Golf House Club, Elie

Golf has been played over these links since the sixteenth century, by all accounts! Old Tom Morris and James Braid were both involved in the design of the current course layout. A submarine periscope, salvaged from the Royal Navy’s HMS Excalibur, is used to ensure the fairway ahead is clear at the first hole – an intriguing start to your round!

Round:   £47-£49 from 22 October to 22 March 2019
(includes soup or coffee & hot roll)

 

Lundin Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.lundingolfclub.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Lundin Links

Lundin Links sits side by side with Leven Links, separated by the Mile Dyke.  You are tested on this Open qualifying course with deep bunkers, tight fairways, out of bounds, burns, the ever present wind but rewarded with excellent greens and an award winning clubhouse at the 19th.

Round: £30 from 5 November to 31 March 2019 (not available on Saturdays)

 

Leven Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.leven-links.com

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
18th green, Leven Links

Leven Links has been an Open qualifying course on many occasions, in addition to hosting numerous prestigious national, international, professional and amateur events over the years.

Leven is a classic Scottish links course, full of natural dunes, valleys and slopes that will throw or collect your ball in true links style. When the wind gets up it can cause havoc, as your ball appears to take on a mind of its own, on the firm fairways and fast rolling greens. Possibly the toughest par 4 finishing hole in Scotland!

Round: £35 from 1 December to 28 February 2019

I do hope you are able to take advantage of these great green fee rates being offered by some of our top courses.  Please check the course website or facebook page for any updates before your round.

NEXT BLOG POST: Thursday 8 November 2018 – Next week, is the third & final blog post on Scottish Winter Golf Deals.  I’ll be looking at what winter green fee deals are available in East Lothian, Borders, South West Scotland & Ayrshire.

PREVIOUS BLOG POST: from 23 October 2018 – focuses on the Winter Green Fee deals in the Scottish Highlands & the North East – click HERE to read the post from last week.

Tom Kelly the home of golf

Scottish Winter Green Fee Deals – Highlands & The North East

Scottish Winter Green Fee Deals – Highlands & The North East

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Plenty Winter Green Fee
Deals To Keep The Golf
Clubs Out Over The Winter

There is no doubt that winter is approaching but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the golf season for all of us!  The reason I say this is because I have been looking at what some Scottish golf clubs are offering, in terms of winter green fee deals and winter memberships over the coming months.

We are very fortunate in Scotland to have so many links & coastal courses that are playable throughout most of the winter, without having to use winter greens.  As a result, this can be a great time to golf on Scottish links/coastal courses for a fraction of the price….albeit, with an extra layer or two of clothing!

Most courses are so much quieter at this time of year and, in many cases, the winter green fee has been discounted by 30-70% or more from the summer rate. Furthermore, if you are lucky enough to have the course to yourself, on crisp winter day, with little or no wind and clear blue skies, you may start to convince yourself that there is no better time, than the winter, to play links golf in Scotland.

The Home of Golf - Cruden Bay - Winter Green Fee
Cruden Bay on a late winter afternoon

I have picked out a number of links/coastal courses in the Highlands and the North East, this week, that are not only offering great discount deals but are also likely to have their full course open all winter.  Over the next couple of weeks, I will be highlighting more courses throughout the other regions of Scotland that are also offering great winter green fee deals over the next few months.

Take a quick look at our post from last month ‘Golfing in the Winter’ (click here) – it’s a short checklist which highlights 17 things that you may want to consider before booking your next winter round.

Highlands – Winter Green Fee Deals

The Home of Golf

Reay GC
www.reaygolfclub.co.uk

The most northerly 18-hole links course on mainland Britain.

Round:   £15 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership:   £90 from October to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - North Coast 500 - Winter Green Fee
Reay GC

Wick Golf Club
www.wickgolfclub.org.uk

The outstanding feature of Wick Golf Course is the sand dunes that run the length of the course.  This links course is a classic ‘straight-out-straight-back’ layout, with amazing views over Sinclair Bay, out to the Noss Head peninsula and its lighthouse!

Round:   £20 winter green fee from November to March 2019

Golspie GC
www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk

Designed by James Braid, Golspie GC is situated on the Dornoch Firth and is a mix of classic links, heathland and parkland holes.

Round:   £15 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019

Royal Dornoch GC
www.royaldornoch.com

Royal Dornoch draws many people to the area because it is regarded as one of the best courses in the world and few would argue with that!  This winter you can play the course for £90 which is less than half the price of next summer’s rate.

Round:   £90 winter green fee from November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - Royal Dornoch - Winter Green Fee
Tain GC
www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

Tain is an Old Tom Morris designed links that overlooks the Dornoch Firth. It has everything that you would expect from a top quality links course in this region; undulating fairways, heather and gorse, a meandering burn, sea views and greens that are in good condition throughout the year.

Round:   £28-30 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - North Coast 500 - Winter Green Fee
Carvings at Tain GC

Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC
www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

This award-winning links course sits on a peninsula, flanked by the Moray Firth. Fort George lies just across the water, Chanonry lighthouse sits at the end of the course and after your round, you can unwind in the recently refurbished clubhouse which has great views over the course, the Moray Firth and surrounding area!

Round:   £25 (M-F) £35 (w/end) winter green fee from 1 November to 10 March 2019

The Home of Golf - North Coast 500 - Winter Green Fee
Fortress & Rosemarkie GC

Nairn GC
www.nairngolfclub.co.uk

This is a true championship links course and it has held numerous national and international events over the years. Plenty of gorse and heather guard the fairways, so accuracy will win over length. The views of the Moray Firth, on all the holes, make this former Walker Cup course a scenic delight in the Highlands.

Round:   £50 winter green fee from 1 November through to 27 March 2019

Nairn Dunbar GC
www.nairndunbar.com

Nairn Dunbar sits on the east side of Nairn and is a challenging 6,700+ yard, par 72 course. This championship links course is situated on the Moray Firth coast and provides a good test of golf, with great views to match.

Round:   £25 winter green fee from November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - Nairn Dunbar - Winter Green Fee
Nairn Dunbar GC

Castle Stuart Golf Links

Castle Stuart Golf Links would be on the ‘Highlands’ list but it closes over the winter from 17thNov until 29thMarch 2019.

 

North East – Winter Green Fee Deals

The Home of Golf - Winter Green Fee
Winter Golf route in the North East of Scotland

Hopeman GC
www.hopemangolf.club

“The 12th hole at Hopeman Golf Club is one of the best par 3s I have ever played”
as quoted by Paul Lawrie, Open Champion 1999.

They have a number of other holes that you’ll enjoy.  Furthermore, this is a real hidden gem in the North East and worth stopping at.

Round:   £15 winter green fee from October to December 2018

Winter Membership – £100 to 31 March 2019

Moray GC – Old & New
www.moraygolf.co.uk

The Old Course at Moray Golf Club is a fine links course indeed. A classic links, designed by Old Tom Morris, with deep bunkers, undulating, gorse-lined fairways and smooth fast greens. As a result, it’s ideal for winter golf and has a great 6 month winter membership deal at £150.

Round: Old Course – £30 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 December 2018
Round: New Course – £15 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 December 2018

Winter Membership – £150 from October to March 2019

The Home of Golf - Moray GC - Winter Green Fee
1st tee Moray Golf Club

Buckpool GC
www.buckpoolgolf.com

Elevated above sea level, Buckpool Golf Course has great views across the Moray Firth towards the hills of Caithness. You will encounter gorse-lined fairways, challenging greens and cavernous bunkers to test your game!

Winter Membership – £150

Strathlene GC
www.strathlenegolfclub.co.uk

Strathlene is a cliff top links style course with fabulous view over the Moray Firth.

Round:   £12 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £80 from October to March 2019

Cullen Links
www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk

Cullen Links is a short but interesting true links course.  It was originally a 9 hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris but has been extended to 18 holes.  The views, from the elevated position on the 7thtee, over the course and out to the Moray Firth are worth the visit and, incredibly, £50 will get you 5 months winter membership until the end of March 2019.  Seems like a bargain to me!

Round:   £15 winter green fee to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £50

The Home of Golf - Cullen Links - Winter Green Fee

Inverallochy GC
www.inverallochygolfclub.com

Inverallochy is an 18 hole links course with sea views on every hole. It is a short course with six par 3s, three of which are around the 200 yard mark. As with most links courses, it will feel like twice the length, if the wind gets the better of you.

Round:   £10 winter green fee to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £100 from 1 October to 1 March 2019

Peterhead GC
www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

As you arrive at the car park at Peterhead Golf Club, you may think you’ve taken a wrong turn.  Fear not, access, to the course, is by foot across the bridge, over the River Ugie which gives the course a feeling of seclusion. The Craigewan Links at Peterhead has got some great holes once you reach the dunes area and when you add in the views, you’ll be well satisfied at the end of 18 holes.

Round:   £35 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Cruden Bay GC
www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk

If you haven’t played Cruden Bay before then, I would suggest putting it on your golfing bucket list, if you’re a fan of links golf.  In the late afternoon, the shadows cast by the undulating fairways, in the setting sun, make this course all the more dramatic.  Additionally, the views looking down onto the course, from the elevated clubhouse at the end of the day, are spectacular and will leave a lasting memory.  It is £55 to play over the winter but more than double that to play the course next summer.

Round:   £55 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £235 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - Cruden Bay - Winter Green Fee
Cruden Bay

Newburgh on Ythan GC
www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk

Another hidden gem in this region, Newburgh on Ythan has been overshadowed by Cruden Bay to the north and Murcar & Royal Aberdeen to the south. Go and play it and then tell everyone about it.

Round:   £30 winter green fee from November to 8 March 2019

Trump International
www.trumpgolfscotland.com

On my first visit to Trump International Golf Links at Aberdeen, I couldn’t help but feel similarities with Cruden Bay, in terms of the views looking down on the course from the clubhouse. Unsurprising really, as there is only 16 miles between them.  £75 (plus proof of Scottish residency) will get you a game here which is a sizeable discount off their standard summer green fee.

Round:   £75 winter green fee from 1 Nov to 31 Dec 2018 for those with proof of Scottish residency

The Home of Golf - Trump International - Winter Green Fee
Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen

Murcar Links
www.murcarlinks.com

Murcar Links is 10 minutes from Aberdeen and sits amongst the sand dunes, heather and whins of this fine golf coast.  It held a European Tour event in 2015, the Paul Lawrie Match Play, where Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson in the final.

Round:   £55 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership:  £180 from November to 28 February 2019

Royal Aberdeen GC
www.royalaberdeengolf.com

Right next door to Murcar is Royal Aberdeen – the Balgownie links at Royal Aberdeen has been host to many national and international events throughout the years but the most notable recent European Tour event was the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July 2014 where Justin Rose won by 2 shots over the chasing pack. You can play between the end of October and 14 April 2019 for £90, which is less than half the price of a round next summer.

Round:   £90 winter green fee from 26 October to 14 April 2019

The Home of Golf - Royal Aberdeen - Winter Green Fee


Stonehaven GC
www.stonehavengolfclub.com

The cliff top course at Stonehaven Golf Club maybe short but the elevation changes and the wind will make it feel longer.  The stunning views of the North Sea, Stonehaven Bay and also Dunnottar Castle will simply add to the experience.

Round:   £12 winter green fee from October to 31 January 2019


NEXT BLOG POST: Wednesday 31 October 2018 – If this week’s blog is too far north for you, I’ll be taking a look, next week, at what the courses in the Angus & Fife regions are offering over the winter.

Tom Kelly the home of golf

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